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#GiroNextGen #AdamRafferty #SethDunwoody #LiamOBrien #Cycling #RoadRace #U23Cycling #SummitFinish #PassoDelManiva #BreakawayHero #JonathanVervenne #MagliaRosa #ProCycling #StageRace #IrishCyclists
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The opening stages of Giro Next Gen have set the stage for an exciting race, with the Irish trio of Adam Rafferty, Seth Dunwoody, and Liam O’Brien navigating the early challenges ahead of the crucial summit finishes. The 146km opening road stage on Monday saw an unexpected breakaway success, setting the tone for the week’s racing.
Stage 1 Highlights
The stage was marked by a daring solo victory by Jonathan Vervenne (Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team), who broke away early alongside Ilian Alexandre Barhoumi (Decathlon AG2R Development). After gaining a maximum advantage of three minutes, Vervenne pressed on alone when Barhoumi misjudged a roundabout. Despite having 60km to ride solo, the Belgian held off the charging peloton to win by 30 seconds. This remarkable effort also earned him the coveted maglia rosa (leader’s jersey), putting him 28 seconds ahead of Sunday’s TT winner, Matthias Schwarzbacher (UAE Team Emirates Gen Z).
Irish Performances
The Irish riders had a mixed day but came through unscathed ahead of the race’s first major climbing test:
- Adam Rafferty (Hagens Berman Jayco), fresh off a 6th-place finish in the opening TT, finished in the main peloton, 30 seconds down on Vervenne. He now sits 7th overall, 35 seconds behind the leader.
- Liam O’Brien (Lidl Trek Future Racing), who arrives on the back of a strong 2nd-place finish at the recent Ronde de l’Isard, also finished in the main group and is 29th overall, 53 seconds behind Vervenne.
- Seth Dunwoody (Bahrain Victorious Development) had a tougher day, finishing 141st at 6:32, likely due to his team duties supporting GC contender Jakob Omrzel. Dunwoody sits 130th overall, 6:56 down on the leader.
Stage 3 Preview: Passo del Maniva
The race’s first major climbing test arrives on Tuesday with the 144km Stage 3, which culminates in the 13.2km HC climb of Passo del Maniva, averaging 6.9%. This stage will be a crucial test for the GC contenders and climbers, including Rafferty and O’Brien, who will aim to hold their own against the field.
- Rafferty will be looking to make his mark on what is his first major climb of the season, racing among the elite of the U23 scene.
- O’Brien and his teammate Albert Philipsen (a former junior world road race champion), who sits 5th overall, will likely play a strategic role for Team Lidl Trek Future Racing. How the team balances its ambitions will be key.
- Dunwoody is expected to continue supporting his GC leader, Jakob Omrzel, in the early phases of the stage before the climbing begins.
General Classification Standings
After two stages, Jonathan Vervenne leads the race:
- Jonathan Vervenne (Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team)
- Matthias Schwarzbacher (UAE Team Emirates Gen Z) +28”
- Noah Hobbs (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) +29”
- Bart Lemmen (Visma Lease a Bike Development) +34”
- Albert Philipsen (Lidl Trek Future Racing) +34”
The Irish trio’s positions are as follows:
- Adam Rafferty: 7th overall, +35”
- Liam O’Brien: 29th overall, +53”
- Seth Dunwoody: 130th overall, +6:56
Key Takeaways
The opening stages have already delivered drama, with Vervenne’s breakaway heroics putting him in the race lead. The Irish riders have navigated the early challenges well, particularly Rafferty and O’Brien, who remain well-placed ahead of the first summit finish. Tuesday’s stage up Passo del Maniva will be a defining moment for the GC contenders and climbers, with Rafferty and O’Brien looking to test themselves against the best. Dunwoody, meanwhile, will focus on supporting his team leader as the race enters its critical phase.
With five stages remaining, including another summit finish and a final TT, the battle for the maglia rosa is wide open. The Irish trio will aim to make their mark in the coming days, with Rafferty and O’Brien particularly well-positioned to challenge for strong GC finishes.
